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Output XML File Questions

Article Number: 1791 | Rating: Unrated | Last Updated: Thu, Jun 22, 2023 at 10:18 PM

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Output XML File Questions

Output Sequence

The choices here are for record number sequence, prime index sequence (but only if a prime-indexed file) and an order of your choosing. If you choose the latter, then a subsidiary window opens to allow you to choose up to four items against which the data is first to be sorted before outputting to XML.

Selective Records

Tick this box if you want to use selection criteria on the output database. You can define default selection criteria once you’ve answered the remaining questions on this screen.

Fixed Record Range (not offered for application transactions)

When outputting data from a database, tick this box if you want to restrict the range of record numbers to output. This operates in conjunction with any selection criteria chosen. If you tick this box, then as well as specifying the selection criteria (in the next step) you can specify the record range.

Allow Runtime Changes

Tick this box if you want to modify any predefined selection criteria when you run this option. Note that you cannot modify selection criteria if this option is run within a ProFiler queue.

† The log file option is a planned future extension to the XML facilities, and is not yet available for use.

Save Runtime Changes

Tick this box if you want to save any selection criteria changes that you make at run-time as the default criteria the next time you use this option.

Automatic Run With No User Prompts (not offered for application transactions)

Tick this box if you do not want any options to be offered (other than selection criteria if appropriate) at run-time. The purpose of this is to make the option easier to use. It has no effect, of course, if the option is included within a ProFiler queue, when the process does not stop for user input anyway. Note that this overrides the run-time Pre-Process option.

1st Item To Flag Record As Processed
2nd Item To Flag Record As Processed

You can specify up to two items to be flagged if the record is output the XML file. If an ?–type is chosen, its value is set to "Y”. If a date item is chosen, its value is set to today’s date. Note that the XML template can specify additional items to be flagged.

Lock Records as required

Answer "Y” to invoke record locking. Otherwise relevant databases are locked before the start of the process, which may prevent the process starting if any other user has a lock on the database concerned.

Note

The danger of record locking for an XML input process is that a particular record may be locked already, thus preventing the process from fully completing. In general it is safer not to lock records for such processes.

Produce Formatted Printout of XML

Tick this box if you want the process to print the XML files created. This is helpful during the testing stage of an XML process, but you can probably dispense with it once the function is working correctly. Note that there is already an XML application option that allows you to print any XML file.

Printer Control Set For XML Printout

Enter the standard Datafile print style definition (1–8) to use for XML prints.

Ignore Runtime errors

Generally you tick this box once you’ve fully tested the function. If left un-ticked, then any errors found within the XML file definition, such as items referenced but not present in the driving database, are reported within the output XML file.

Use Slots on Output Database

Tick this box if you want to make of use of the database slots for this option. You are now offered the usual choices to record the number of the last record processed, and to start after the record number given in the specified slots (1–10). The value zero disables the use of any slot for the option concerned.

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